ANDREWS
Man threatens mayor, sheriff
A local man is accused of threatening to kill the mayor of Andrews and sheriff of Cherokee County.
Michael Yackeren, 59, of Andrews, surrendered to authorities Friday morning after learning that warrants had been issued for his arrest. Officials say Yackeren was with a group of people on Aug. 25 when he reportedly threatened to kill Mayor James Reid and Sheriff Derrick Palmer.
Yackeren reportedly told police he made the threats because he believed Reid was responsible for the drug problem in Andrews. He also believed the sheriff’s office confiscated his guns.
“According to his wife, the guns are at home,” Capt. Tiffany Holland said, adding that Yackeren’s spouse believes he may have been under the influence of drugs when he made the threat.
Yackeren is charged with communicating threats.
PEACHTREE
Chase ends with arrest
A Georgia man was arrested last week following a high-speed chase that ended in a crash.
Nathan McConnell, 43, of Blue Ridge, Ga., reportedly fled a traffic stop on U.S. 64 Alternate after a Cherokee County sheriff’s deputy told him he was being arrested in connection with warrants out of his home state.
“His statement was, ‘(expletive) this,’ and he drove off,” Capt. Tiffany Holland said. “He headed straight into Clay County.”
Officials say the deputy initially stopped McConnell for driving a vehicle that had a fake license plate. The deputy learned about the Georgia warrants after searching McConnell’s name in a database.
Law enforcement officials from Clay County joined the chase when it entered their jurisdiction. The ordeal eventually ended after McConnell found himself on a dead-end road.
Officials say McConnell slammed his vehicle in reverse after reaching the dead end and crashed into a Cherokee County deputy’s patrol car. McConnell then drove his vehicle into a ditch, allowing authorities to finally place him in handcuffs.
No injuries were reported.